Device for removably covering an opening in a structural member



May 3, 1966 J. D. SMITH 3,249,252

DEVICE FOR REMOVABLY COVERING AN OPENING IN A STRUCTURAL MEMBER Filed D80. 20, 1963 FIG. I

INVENTOR. TERRY D. SM\TH 3 Hi5 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,249,252 DEVICE FOR REMOVABLY COVERING AN OPEN- ING IN A STRUCTURAL MEMBER Jerry D. Smith, Louisville, Ky., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 332,036 1 Claim. (Cl. 220-27) This invention relates generally to the fabrication of materials and, more particularly, to an arrangement for removably covering an opening in a structural member.

With present day mass production techniques it is quite often desirable to design a specific structural member so that it may be employed in a variety of end products. For example, in the dishwasher industry each manufacturer generally produces several models of dishwashers. Although the basic structural members such as, for example, the members comprising the appearance cabinet, are essentially identical for all models, the number or location of fluid conduits or electrical conductors passing through a structural member varies among the different models. The savings in time, money and machinery realized by having all such structural members interchangeable, despite the differences mentioned, are substantial. Therefore, it has been proposed that all such structural members be manufactured with all the openings therein necessary to accommodate any conceivable combination of fluid conduits and electrical conductors which may pass through the structural member.

Various means for achieving this interchangeability have been proposed in the past. These include the concept of scoring or cutting the structural member so that a hole is almost formed therein but a small segment of material integrally interconnects the structural member with the plug-like cut portion. The theory being with this arrangement that it is then quite easy to simply knock out the plug if an opening is needed at that point. This method has disadvantages including ditficulty in reproducing a score or out which will consistently require the same force to remove the plug. In dishwasher applications, the thickness of the material comprising the structural member (about .036 inch) is such that if the score is made by a punch, the force required to provide a plug which is easily removable quite often results in cracks adjacent the score. This presents problems, of course, since the dishwasher structural member usually is coated with a water-proof plastic which may be damaged, due to the cracks, when the plug is removed. More importantly, however, in most dishwasher applications, it is necessary to provide a smooth, clean round hole for the conduit or conductor to pass through. The method just described generally does not provide a smooth, round hole.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved arrangement for removably covering an opening in a structural member.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a removable cover means for an opening in a structural member which does not aifect the smoothness or roundness of the opening.

Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, means are provided to removably cover, or plug, an opening in a structural member including a device having a first portion adapted to overlie the opening. The device has a second portion adapted to be secured to the structural member by such means as, for example, Welding. Between the first portion and the second portion, the device has a place of reduced structural strength which may result from reduced cross sectional area so that the first portion may be broken from the second portion with relative ease.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject mat- 3,249,252 Patented May 3, 1966 ter which is regarded as the invention, it is believed the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a structural member with an opening therein and the device of the present invention in spaced relationship thereto;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the device of the present invention secured to the structural member;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 with the central portion of the device broken away; and

FIGURE 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawings, and'particularly to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated a structural member 10 having an opening or hole 11 therein. Structural member 10 may be fabricated from metal, plastic, wood or other substantially rigid material since the exact material employed is not critical to the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention, a device 12 is provided to cover, or plug, the opening 11. Device 12 comprises a central portion 13 which is of suflicient size to completely cover opening 11. Attached to either end of central portion 13 are end portions 14. At the place where end portions 14 connect to central portion 13, the cross-section area of device 12 is considerably reduced, thereby creating a place, or locality, of reduced structural strength.

In FIGURE 2, device 12 is illustrated as attached to member 10 such that central portion 13 completely covers opening 11. End portions 14 are secured to structural member 10 by weld spots 15. Weld spots 15 .are presented only for purposes of illustration since, quite obviously, portions 14 could be secured to member 10 by such means as a bolt and nut combination, or they could be simply glued to member 10 to provide a rigid connection with member 10.

As mentioned above, places of reduced structural strength exist where central portion 13 joins each of the end portions 14. Accordingly, when a force is applied to central portion 13, either through opening 11, or by means of wedging a tool between the surface of member 10 and the adjacent surface of portion 13, portion 13 separates from end of portions 14 leaving the arrangement as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 4 illustrates the surface finish which may be obtained with the present invention when the device 12 is not removed or broken from member 10. In FIG- URE 4, structural member 10 may represent the tub wall of an automatic dishwasher which is often lined with a plastisol coating 16. Portions 12 and 14 are substantially coplanar and, when device 12 is secured to member 10, all of said portions are disposed entirely on one side thereof, as illustrate-d in FIGURES 2 and 4, to facilitate the application of the coating 16.

Thus, it can be seen that the present invention provides means to removably cover an opening in a structural member wherein the cover in no way affects the smoothness or roundness of the opening. This is to be distinguished from an arrangement wherein a knockout plug is achieved by scoring the member and then leaving the cut portion in place to be removed at a later time to form a hole. With the present invention, a clean, smooth opening of any size or shape may be formed in a structural member since, during the hole forming operation, care does not have to be taken to assure that an easily removable plug remains in the member 10.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the invention are not limited to the particular details of construction of the example illustrated, and it is contemplated that various other modifications or 3 4 applications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is (e) said central portion and said end portions being therefore intended that the appended claims shall cover coplanar and disposed entirely on one side of said such modifications and applications as do not depart from structural member, the true spirit and scope of the invention. (f) whereby a force applied to said central portion What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 5 will break said central portion from said end portions Patent of the United States is: at said places of minimum cross sectional area.

In combination: (a) a structural member having a hole therethrough, References Ciied y the Examine! (b) a rigid cover member having a central portion suf- UNITED STATES PATENTS ficiently large to completely cover said hole, 10 (c) said cover member further having an end portion 35 at each end of said central portion welded to said alrc 1 Structural member, THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

(d) said cover member further having a place of p minimum cross sectional area at the junction between 15 LOUIS MANCENE Exammer' each of said end portions and said central portion, G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner. 

